Events

Northeast Cooperative Council

The Northeast Cooperative Council is a not-for-profit organization of agricultural and rural electric cooperatives, Farm Credit Associations, and their professional advisors doing business in New York State, New England, and Pennsylvania. The Council works to provide information, education, and leadership training to cooperative boards of directors, managers, future leaders and employees.

Biennially the NECC sponsors the Future Cooperative Leaders Conference. The most recent conference was held in 2013 and co-hosted by Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. and Farm Credit East, ACA, Batavia, NY. The next Future Leaders conference will be held in 2015.

The NECC is presently developing new opportunities to support the efforts of college students to learn more about the unique nature of a cooperative business.

Welcome to the Cornell University Cooperative Enterprise Program

The program focuses on agriculture, food system, and rural-based businesses and associations. The program is a resource for people desiring to form a cooperative or learn more about the unique nature of a cooperative-structured business, and for cooperative leaders as they govern and manage these unique member-owned companies.

Vision

A cooperative-structured business is well-managed and properly governed to enhance the lives of its member owners and employee

Cooperatives are viewed as a viable business model to address economic challenges

Cooperative businesses enhance the communities in which they are located or do business.

The Cooperative Enterprise Program is available to assist with other 'group-action' efforts of persons belonging to a member organization or persons interested in forming a member-based association to address an economic need or acquire a necessary service to build success in the farm and food sector.

Purpose

To provide researched-based information to cooperative leaders and members that will strengthen cooperative businesses

To communicate the value of a cooperative business as a means to enhance the vigor of rural communities

To work in partnership with the Northeast Cooperative Council to provide networking and learning opportunities

To support formation of cooperative businesses or "group-action" groups to strengthen the farm and food sector

To collaborate with other University Cooperative Academic Centers, Cooperative Development Centers, community economic developers, and other government agencies to enhance the economic vitality of cooperative businesses.

Resources

The Cornell University College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, other land grant universities, and the United States Department of Agriculture have developed information and financial calculators useful to cooperative leaders and their members.

For Students

Cooperative Internship Recognition Award
The Cooperative Internship Recognition Award (CIRA) recognizes students who successfully complete an internship with a Northeast Cooperative Council member cooperative in good standing. Up to 5 students will be awarded $1,000 each. The CIRA brochure provides more information about eligibility requirements. The award application with supporting documents must be completed and submitted by November 15th. Announcements of award recipients will be made on or near January 15th.

AEM 3260 Cooperative Business Management
Focuses on economic justifications of cooperatives as a business entity; discusses the distinctive characteristics of governance, finance, and management; and contemporary issues facing agribusiness cooperatives.

AEM 4040 Farm Credit Fellows
Focuses on financial management for agriculture and agribusiness. Farm Credit Fellows are selected in the spring of the junior year. Selected students gain in-depth understanding of the Farm Credit System.

The Northeast Cooperative Council provides opportunities for interested students to attend their annual Leaders Forum held in March of each year.